Fountain Views - My Fertilizer Friday

This fountain was a Mother's Day gift from my wonderful sons a few years ago.  Photo taken two years ago.

one year ago in the spring

Back left is my Black Lace Elder, to the right Jackmani Clematis

View from above spring 2010

Early Spring 2010,  The black lace elder has not yet started to grow, the clematis is straggly, but the rhododendron looks about ready to start blooming.  Fron right is a bird's nest spruce.

The heat of summer has encouraged a lot of growth and blossoms.  Next year the clematis will be even fuller! 

Looking through from under the deck.  An interesting angle I'd never thought to photograph before.

The Passing of Victory Garden Host Jim Wilson

Jim Wilson, host of PBS's Victory Garden, has passed away this last weekend at the age of 86.  A gentleman from Mississippi, Jim was well known in horticulture circles.  He was president of the Garden Writers' Association of America and lifetime honorary member of the National Council of State Garden Clubs.  His kind, gentle and geuine manner will be missed.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100804/COL0702/8040315/1020/feat/Jim-Wilson-leaves-a-bountiful-legacy

Summer Blahs?

Summer is so short here.  Sometimes it feels as if we have one month of spring, three months of summer (aka construction season), one month of fall, and the remaining seven months feel like winter!  Is there any better reason to make the most of summer?  Sit by the fire outdoors in the evening whenever possible.  Build that oasis in the back corner.  Enjoy the pond.  Put up bird feeders.  Deadhead annuals to keep them flowering.  Add that new plant you've been eyeing in the nursery.  Yes, that might mean digging up some more grass!  You know it!!  Add some colour to that drab spot that has been bugging you at this time of year, every year.  Go for it!  Make this summer a great one!  Do remember to take some time in your garden to enjoy the fruits of your labours and the gifts of Mother Nature.  Enjoy!!

And, if that is not enough incentive check this link:

http://www.canadiangardening.com/what-to-do-now/jobs-in-the-garden-by-season/banish-the-summer-gardening-blahs/a/22788?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cg_100803

10 Midsummer Mistakes

Common mistakes gardeners make.  I myself am guilty, by the sounds of things, of overwatering my lawn.  3-5 minutes?  Really?..................

http://www.canadiangardening.com/what-to-do-now/jobs-in-the-garden-by-season/10-midsummer-gardening-mistakes/a/31797?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cg_100803

Dreaming..........

I am dreaming of a vacation to the Hamptons............

like Something's Gotta Give.........

ora visit to this lovely plot in the movie It's Complicated...

or a beach....anywhere.....

like San Francisco (taken by friend)...

have a picnic on the sand like Jack and Diane (Something's Gotta Give)

(see my blog http://shirley-adventuresinanotsounusuallife.blogspot.com/)

or....

a visit to Cold Lake.....

but more than likely it'll be something more like this....

maybe with a little this.....

and a lot of weeding, gardening, and good fun.....

street performers earlier this month

walking the dogs

waterfights in the back

(my son and his friends)

Enjoying the dog days of summer......

and a little humour thrown in

Made in the Shade

Hostas look lovely in planters

The shade garden

Hostas, heuchera, ferns and astilbe

The soon-to-be flower of Francis Williams Hosta

Shooting Star

I love the juxtaposition of burgundy heuchera and the green of ferns, juniper, Alberta Spruce, and astilbe with a touch of pink in the flower of shooting star.

The heat of the last week or so has made me truly appreciate the shade!

Join the garden party at:

Eight Ways To Keep Your Herbs Healthy Through The Summer - CityLine

Eight Ways To Keep Your Herbs Healthy Through The Summer - CityLine

Correction of size of Crimson King Maple

Likely growth of Crimson King Maple is 35-50 feet high and 25-30 feet wide. I have perused several sources and this is the average measurement for a mature Crimson King Maple.  There seems to be a great degree of variance among sources for height expectations.  I apologize for the confusion.  I should have investigated further before citing only one source for size.  Trust your gut sometimes!

Architectural Plants

 Tolleson Weeping Juniper

Plants of architectural value monopolize my back garden.  I love the topiaries and even sculpted a Mint Julep Juniper into a pom pom topiary.  Also in the landscape are two weeping Tolleson Junipers, two white pine topiaries, a juniperus chinensis trained with stakes to have four branches in topiary style, another juniper grown upright on a stake to a point of about five feet from where it cascades downwards in its spreading habit.

Clockwise from back left: topiaried white pine, groundcover juniper trained upright to a height of about 5 feet and left to cascade down, Mint Julep Juniper trained to topiary pom pom style

Young's Twisted Weeping Birch.  You see the twisted trunk best in winter.

Trost Dwarf Birch

Three-flowered Maple.  In front, Dwarf Chinese Juniper trained in topiary

 A rare specimen of Three-flowered Maple gracefully sweeps out over the pond.  I am trying to mimic the Japanese style of pruning a maple though it tends to grow faster than I can prune as you can see here.  Maybe I will just stop fighting nature on this one. 

I still wish I had added a Harry Lauder's Walking Stick to the mix.  I love the twisted, twirling branches!

Fertilizer Friday? Flaunting My Flowers

So there seems to be much ado about Fertilizer Friday!  I figured I'd give it a go!  It is hosted by Tootsie a Central Alberta Gardener!  Hey there Albertan!!  I am not sure how to do the linky thingy but let's hope I am not totally illiterate here!  Here are some photos of my garden, mostly things that are no longer blooming.  :P  My rose is taking a rest, the irises and peonies are done.  The clematis is blooming its heart out, the campanula looks about ready to retire for the year but my hydrangea is about to put on a magnificent performance.

Campanula

Blue Delphinium with white eye

Snow in Summer at its peak in June

Morden Blush Rose

Jackmanii Clematis

Endless Summer Hydrangea

Tootsie has a wonderful blog full of luscious photos!  Here's a link:
http://www.tootsietime.com/